1. Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Introduction to Mapping
How could you describe the exact location of a dot on a basketball?
It would be just as hard to describe a position on earth without some sort of grid system.
This grid system is called latitude and longitude.
Latitude & Longitude make an imaginary grid on Earth to help find exact locations.
Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom A+

2. Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Latitude Lines
The equator is a line of latitude.
Labeled using N or S
(N) if in the northern hemisphere.
(S) if in the southern hemisphere.
RANGE: degrees
Horizontal
Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom A+

3. Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Latitude Lines
90°N North Pole
23.5°N Tropic of Cancer
0° Equator
23.5° S Tropic of Capricorn
90°S South Pole
Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom A+

4. Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Latitude Lines
For example: The tropic of cancer is 23.5°N.
What is the range of possible latitude?
0° - 90° N
and
0° - 90° S
Label north if in northern hemisphere and south if in southern hemisphere.
Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom A+

5. Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Longitude Lines
The Prime Meridian is a line of longitude.
Labeled using E or W
(E) if in the eastern hemisphere.
(W) if in the western hemisphere.
RANGE: degrees
Vertical
Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom A+

6. Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Longitude Lines
Longitude lines are curved and meet at the poles.
0° Prime Meridian
Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom A+

7. Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Latitude and Longitude Lines
We can put latitude and longitude together to find the exact locations of a point on Earth.
Example: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Use latitude to find how far north or south.
Use longitude to find how far west or east.
44°N, 90°W
Latitude is always first.
Mr. Fetch's Earth Science Class
Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom A+